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Researching Cooking Colleges
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to earn, and if you want to enroll in a private or a public school. Since there a large number of culinary arts institutions in the Scarsdale area and across the Country, you will want to create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can start narrowing your choices. Some obvious qualifiers, for example location and cost are an excellent place to begin. But picking a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, such as reputation and accreditation that you need to review as well. Therefore, following are some key areas that you must investigate for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary arts program you choose has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As previously stated, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education certified authority, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed review relating to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it can also help in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the benefit of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to garner an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more reputable schools usually update their facilities and equipment. The important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking programs you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are indicators that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the programs and quit before graduating. They can also signify that the teachers were not qualified to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a great or excellent reputation within the culinary arts community, in addition to a large network of professional associations. Be suspicious of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary school that you enroll in must be within driving distance of your Scarsdale residence, unless you are able to relocate. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Conversely, perhaps you have opted to go to a particular culinary arts school located in another state because of its reputation and programs offered. It would be a good idea to check out the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the area and your potential living conditions. Look over the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that some schools focus their job placement programs within their regional communities, so select a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with lots of one-on-one training. If the culinary arts program you enroll in has large classes, you will probably get little personal attention from the instructors. The ideal manner in which to assess the interaction and communication between teachers and students is to attend a few of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are happy with the amount of attention they receive in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their teaching approaches are together with their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a cooking institute if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you pick offers class scheduling that will work with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Scarsdale NY because of your job schedule, check that the school you pick offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, check that the cooking college has a part-time option. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class because of family, work or other responsibilities.
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